Automotive

Inside The 2017 Ford GT’s Brembo Braking System

Inside The 2017 Ford GT’s Brembo Braking System

The 2017 Ford GT is the fastest production vehicle the blue oval has ever produced. With a precise power-to-weight ratio, five different drive modes, and advanced aerodynamics, the car is worth more than a passing glance. The GT’s engine, a 647 horsepower high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost, is simply the cherry on top.
Or maybe that’s the GT’s top speed of 216 mph?
Either way, getting up to speed isn’t a problem, but what about getting stopped?
Ideal Proving Grounds
Brembo is, for all intents and purposes, accustomed to stopping rocket ships. The company’s high-performance braking systems are found on some of the world’s most powerful racing machines, like Formula One and Indy cars. With more than 300 championships in racing already, Brembo’s technology is unique in that it’s first proven on the track, then brought to the street. The proving and validation environment a track provides, and what can be learned in such situations, will inevitably transition to everyday roads.
For example, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles utilizes Brembo’s expertise on two of their most powerful vehicles, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. General Motors recently worked with Brembo on a new braking kit for select models, including Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 series trucks. The kit upgrade better handles the thermomechanical changes consistent with pulling a trailer or moving a large payload.
Now Ford is in the mix, outfitting their GT supercar with Brembo brakes.
“Our group has been working with the Ford engineering team simultaneously on the Ford GT race cars that are competing and winning now, and have carried those lessons learned over to the Ford GT street model,” explained Dan Sandberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, Brembo North America.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.

Tech & Personality
The production GT will have carbon ceramic (CCM) rotors with dedicated high performance brake pads on the front and the rear. The CCM discs are exceptionally light and function better at high temperatures.
“Lightweight technology wins on the track and the street,” Sandberg said. “The two-piece CCM brakes on the Ford GT deliver a 50 percent weight savings over typical cast iron braking systems.”
In the rear, the unique-to-Brembo, electro-mechanical parking brake (EPB) is worth noting. The EPB function is delivered by a stand-alone black anodized aluminum caliper, governed by Brembo software. The Brembo EPB operates both automatically and via a button, eliminating the cables associated with traditional parking brake systems. Ford GT customers can select from an array of caliper colors too. Each one displays the Brembo lowercase “b” logo in black.
“The consumer choice of five caliper colors makes every Ford GT a personal design statement,” Sandberg added.

Brembo Ford GT Front CCM Brakes
Brembo six-piston, monobloc, fixed bridge, radial mounted aluminum calipers.
394 mm x 36 mm rotors.
Low fluid displacement design improves pedal feel and stiffness.
Exposed fluid lines on calipers allow for increased cooling.
Optimized cooling system designed by Ford and Brembo maximizes CCM performance.
Brake ducts fixed to calipers articulate with the steering for maximum cooling.
Brembo Ford GT Rear CCM Brakes
Four-piston monobloc aluminum calipers with 360 mm x 32 mm CCM rotors.
Rear calipers radially mounted and optimized for stiffness.
Rear brakes also have the specialized cooling ducts for the CCM rotors and pads.
Brembo Electro-Mechanical Parking Brake (EPB):
The EPB caliper is managed by Brembo software, embedded in the ESC unit.
Eliminates additional and unnecessary parts and cables.
Brembo Ford GT Racing Brakes
Lightweight aluminum six-piston Brembo calipers with 380 mm x 34 mm cast iron rotors on the front.
Four-piston calipers with 355 mm x 32 mm rotors on the rear.
Much of the brake cooling geometry hidden in the Ford GT race car carries over to the street version.
The Chip Ganassi No. 68 Ford GT driven by Joey Hand, Sébastien Bourdais, and Dirk Müller won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016 on Brembo brakes.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photos & Source: Brembo North America, Ford Motor Company.

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2018 Buick LaCrosse Receives Light Electrification Update

2018 Buick LaCrosse Receives Light Electrification Update

“The Buick LaCrosse expands its technological credentials by adding eAssist light electrification for the 2018 model,” says Buick in the most vague way possible, meaning that one of their more popular cars now comes in a hybrid.
The term “light electrification” is a pretty good way to go, because although this is a hybrid, it’s not a full blown one like a Prius.
Electric Approach
What Buick, a brand both beloved in America’s heartland and China, is doing with their electrified LaCrosse here is combining an electric motor with the crossover’s 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine to deliver “quiet, refined, and spirited efficient performance backed by the value and customer experience expected of Buick.” Okay, all good so far. Nothing wrong with adding some batteries and an electric motor or two (look at what happened when Ferrari did it), but how does this all play out in the LaCrosse?
Buick’s new eAssist system (yes, that’s how they spell it) pairs the four-cylinder engine with a compact lithium-ion battery pack to offer benefits usually found on fully electric vehicles. So the LaCrosse dials in such goodies as torque-assisted launch, energy-saving regenerative braking (which can also enhance braking performance), and an exceptionally smooth stop/start system. Buick loves this new eAssist system so much it will be the standard powertrain for the 2018 LaCrosse when it goes on sale this fall.
Efficient Packaging
When installed in the LaCrosse, the eAssist differs from previous Buick eAssist implementations by being more sophisticated, powerful, and compact. It gives a 9 percent increase in overall torque, allowing drivers to get the responsiveness expected from a full-size sedan. Also, the newest eAssist system is noticeably smaller and unobtrusively packaged, so you still get to use the LaCrosse’s fold-down rear seat and abundant trunk space. Option-wise, the new standard 2.5 liter four-cylinder/eAssist drivetrain complements the popular V6 plant that remains untouched, and will still be available on select trims.
Other updates on the 2018 Buick LaCrosse include more packages with available all-wheel drive and an all-new nine-speed automatic transmission for the V6 models. By mid-2018, Buick will have five models available with the new advanced transmission. Customer demand is very high for Buick’s intelligent all-wheel drive and active twin clutch gearbox, so that will now be available on the Essence trim.
Buick’s signature QuietTuning is achieved in a number of ways. This chart shows some of the specific areas engineers focus on. Photo: Buick.

Inner Workings
Now, the nitty-gritty, techno-details on this whole eAssist deal. The short version is that eAssist combines a compact electric motor powered by a 24-cell, air-cooled 0.45kWh lithium-ion battery pack with the 2.5-liter four-banger gas engine. This combo is designed to enhance efficiency and maintain refined performance.
All of this gets to the tarmac with five major components.
First, there’s the Motor Generator Unit or MGU. The MGU replaces the conventional alternator and acts as an electric motor to provide more power when needed. The MGU is also an electric generator that provides the energy stored in the lithium-ion battery pack. Next there is the entire Electric Assist scheme, the software controlling what switches on or off, and when. The MGU’s electric motor provides extra power for smooth launches while in the Auto-Stop mode. It also funnels additional torque to the engine when the Electric Assist wizards think it’s needed to optimize overall performance and efficiency.
With hybrid systems, there’s also some cool tricks you can do with the braking. In the case of the 2018 Buick LaCrosse, regenerative braking is part of the act. When you hit the brakes or start coasting, some of the energy you normally give away as heat is, in the case of the Buick, converted to electricity through the graces of the MGU and stored in the lithium-ion battery pack.
Speaking of that lithium-ion battery pack, in our case here, it’s an 86V unit, which has been revamped and repackaged to be more compact. It takes up less space, meaning more room for people and stuff. The energy kept waiting in the lithium-ion battery pack powers the electrical system when the entire vehicle it is in Auto-Stop mode. The lithium-ion battery pack also gets power to the MGU to help with the aforementioned smooth launch while in Auto-Stop mode, or additional torque to the engine as the ones and zeros see fit.
The stop/start technology contributes to added fuel savings by turning off the engine when you are in Auto-Stop mode. So, when you are at a stoplight or in heavy traffic, for example, the LaCrosse will shut off the four-banger, and run things on batteries alone. It will then restart the engine when your foot lifts off the brake pedal.
Aerodynamics & Availability
The 2018 Buick LaCrosse also gets a host of aero improvements to help with efficiency. There are upper and lower active aero shutters in the front fascia. These close under certain driving conditions to help maximize aerodynamics and contribute to improved fuel economy; e.g. when you’re going fast enough, they close, since enough air is getting forced over the radiator anyway. Buick makes no mention of cost, but that will most likely be revealed as we get closer to the fall release date of the 2018 LaCrosse.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Photos & Source: Buick.

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2018 GMC Yukon Denali: The Ultimate Expression of Professional Grade

2018 GMC Yukon Denali: The Ultimate Expression of Professional Grade

In the ongoing, half-century long slugfest between Chevy and Ford over who has the better truck, the fortunes of the fight swing from one pugilist to the next. One company tries something new, and their opponent hits them for its deficiencies; one company doesn’t change, and the other hits them for being too traditional.
For 2018, GMC (the trucks only end of General Motors) is really hitting on their whole notion of “Professional Grade.”
Recognizable & Functional
The 2018 GMC Yukon Denali showcases three main areas they’re pushing: the new, GM-centric, Multi-Dimensional Grille, a Hydra-Matic 10-speed automatic transmission, and a long list of work-oriented standard features. The new grille, in addition to a more chic look, also hides a number of practical features such as greater airflow to the radiator. There are active aero shutters located behind the grille that close in certain conditions on the highway, reducing aerodynamic drag and enhancing efficiency.
The new look of the grille comes from how GMC designers evolved the current Denali grille through a multi-dimensional sculpted lattice in a layered manner. This same theme is seen in other current and newer GMC models like the Acadia and Terrain. The new grille is bracketed by HID headlamps and LED Signature Lighting.
“It’s a more exciting and sophisticated design, while remaining instantly recognizable as part of the GMC Denali family,” said Matt Noone, Director, Global GMC Exterior Design.
Photo: GMC.
Aggressive Yet Smooth
Now, about that 10-speed transmission. This is a growing trend, not just in the truck market (although there’s plenty of representation in that arena as well) but across a broad range of vehicles. Until engineers can figure out a way to make Continuously Variable Transmissions handle high torque and power loads, get used to seeing auto-boxes with many, many ratios contained within.
In the case of GMC’s 2018 Yukon Denali, the new 10-speed slush box pulls the engineering knowledge of GM’s previous transmissions into a new level of performance. There’s a wider, 7.39 overall gear ratio spread, and in comparison to the previous Yukon Denali’s eight-speed box, the new 10-speed allows for a lower numerical top gear ratio that nets you greater efficiency. This new transmission has optimized gearing along with proprietary controls to allow the 6.2L V8 engine to deliver both smooth operation and aggressive response.
Power & Performance
And speaking of that 6.2L engine, it tops the extensive list of standard features for GMC’s 2018 Yukon Denali. Said plant cranks out 420 horsepower with direct injection and GM’s Active Fuel Management, or cylinder deactivation in lighter driving conditions. In other words, a good solid mill for any truck or SUV to have under its hood.
The new Yukon Denali also has Magnetic Ride Control, standard 20-inch wheels, and available 22-inch wheels (if you want to be the flashy guy on the job site), an automatic locking rear differential, and four-wheel-disc brakes with Duralife rotors (does anyone make drums any longer?). Other standard and available features include StabiliTrak electronic stability control, tow/haul mode, trailer sway control, auto grade braking, and hill start assist.
“The foundational elements of exclusive design, premium touches, and uncompromising capability have made Yukon Denali an icon for nearly 20 years,” said Duncan Aldred, Vice President of Global GMC. The first Yukon Denali appeared in 1999. Photo: GMC.

Interior Treatments
Speaking of the interior, the 2018 Yukon Denali is becoming more and more like a mobile office. There’s an infotainment system with navigation that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The standard 8-inch diagonal screen features a customizable display that works with the standard heads-up display. Active Noise Cancellation makes the interior quieter too.
There are multiple USB ports and accessory power outlets, including a 110-volt, three-prong outlet so you can plug in, charge, and run everything from your smartphone to a tablet to a coffeemaker (for all I know). There’s also wireless phone charging, heated and ventilated driver and passenger seats, heated second-row seats, and a hands-free programmable power liftgate. OnStar? Oh, you bet this pick-em-up-truck’s got OnStar.
Packaging & Availability
So, get used to seeing that new front end design on lots of GMC vehicles. The Denali trim package being offered on the Yukon and Yukon XL accounts for way more than half of all Yukon sales. The XL features a longer wheelbase (14 inches) for greater third-row legroom and more than double the cargo area behind the third-row seat. The XL is in case you want to go large, but either way, the 2018 GMC Yukon Denali goes on sale this fall.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Photos & Source: GMC.

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2018 Hyundai Santa Fe: The Value Bullseye

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe: The Value Bullseye

Hyundai is, as ever, onto something here. Hyundai’s purpose in this world is to make dependable, efficient cars, with a passing amount of style you can happily dispose of in a few years without any emotional qualms. While other automakers strive for lasting permanence and iconic status, Hyundai seems to be just fine with you disposing of their cars, just as long as you keep buying their cars.
This is especially evident in the cutthroat world of SUV sales.
Americana 101
Look, if you’re a young up-and-coming family in the U. S. of A. you’re going to get an SUV of some stripe or another. What are your other options? A minivan? Please. That’s some form of automotive death. Every time you start it, a little piece of your soul dies. A station wagon? What is this? 1967? Wagons (although very cool in my opinion, especially the ones that Mercedes-AMG makes with enough power to tear your house from its foundation) were killed by minivans. Wagons were seen as old and stodgy and, indeed, their own form of vehicular death. And so, they were more or less neutered in the market by the minivan (thank you Lee Iacocca). And then the minivan received the same fate at the hands of the SUV.
So, there you are: The prototype American family, 2017. You’ve got your couple of, well 2.3 kids, at least one dog and you want, no need an SUV. What do you do? Especially if you’re just starting out, that’s when your SUV need comes into a direct meeting with your “just starting out” income. What to do?
Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
Problem Solvers
Enter Hyundai. When it comes to “hey, I’m just getting started at this,” Hyundai has you covered. You are, for good or ill, directly in the crosshairs of their marketing department. “Hey kiddo! Want a car? An SUV you say? Well step right over here and let me show you the new for 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe! It’s a great value!”
The entire Santa Fe lineup runs from $24,950 for the entry level FWD Santa Fe Sport, all the way up to $37,200 for the Santa Fe Sport 2.0T Ultimate. Yes, that is a pretty broad range of possible prices, but overall it does skew toward the entry-level end of the buying spectrum. Right in the center of this range sits the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Value Package. For starters, the Value Package will run you between $26,850 and $28,400, depending on whether you want front or all-wheel drive. Since that’s only about $2,500 above the base model, that’s not asking for much more (Hyundai figures).
What to you get for that paltry sum?
Photo: Hyundai Motor America.

Feature Overload
For starters, the Value Package gets you heated dual power side mirrors with turn signal indicators, power windows with front auto-up/down, a proximity key with push-button start, remote start via the Blue Link app, and a seven-inch display audio center with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and SiriusXM. There is also dual automatic temperature control (which is very nice when your better half likes it hotter or colder than you), a power driver’s seat with lumbar support, and heated front seats.
Of course, if you’d like, you could always move further up the content food chain and get more stuff. Hyundai benevolently refers to this “generous feature content.” For example, standard features for the Santa Fe include a rearview camera, automatic on/off headlights, remote keyless entry with alarm, and body color power side mirrors with driver’s blind spot mirror. Also standard are LED headlight accents, daytime running lights, steering wheel mounted audio, cruise control, and Bluetooth capability.
The premium feature upgrades will get you such goodies as HID Xenon headlights, panoramic sunroof, navigation, and an updated 12-speaker Infinity Logic7 audio system – which features QuantumLogic Surround and ClariFi Music Restoration Technology, which is kind of beside the point because of 1: You’re in a bad acoustical environment to begin with, and 2: You’re a parent with 2.3 kids and probably a dog making an unbelievable racket at all times. The goodies list continues with the power HandsFree Smart Liftgate with Auto Open. This is one of those trick/lazy/really-nice-to-have features that will open the rear hatch if your hands are full.
Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
Power & Performance
What’s under the hood, you ask? The Santa Fe Sport is motivated down the highway by a 2.4 liter four-cylinder direct injected engine, putting out 185 horsepower. Further up the option list comes the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder plant cranking out a healthy 240 horsepower. If you opt for the 2018 Santa Fe with three-row seating, you get the 3.3-liter Lambda II V6 engine, putting out 290 horsepower. All of Hyundai’s Santa Fe engines are running a high pressure direct injection fueling system (which is quite the engineering fashion these days) along with a Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing system (D-CVVT). There’s a six-speed automatic transmission standard on all models.
We have included a pricing chart for the entire 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe lineup.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
MODEL
FWD/AWD
MSRP
SANTA FE SPORT 2.4
FWD
$24,950
SANTA FE SPORT 2.4
AWD
$26,500
SANTA FE SPORT 2.4 VALUE
FWD
$26,850
SANTA FE SPORT 2.4 VALUE
AWD
$28,400
SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T
FWD
$31,350
SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T
AWD
$32,900
SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T ULTIMATE
FWD
$35,650
SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T ULTIMATE
AWD
$37,200
*Destination charges $895
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Gallery

Photos & Source: Hyundai Motor America.

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Extreme Terrain Hosting Ultimate Jeep Giveaway

Extreme Terrain Hosting Ultimate Jeep Giveaway We have all passed that car at the local shopping mall, sporting event, or fairgrounds before: the one on display to eventually be given away. Usually, you fill out a little yellow slip of paper and carry on with your day. You figure, if they call, you will be the proud owner of an economical hatchback. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s not exactly the type of vehicle you hit the trails with to discover far-off places.
How about winning a 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon? How about two of them?
Special Sweepstakes
ExtremeTerrain is known for massive giveaways like this – it’s just how they do it. Their upcoming Rubicon sweepstakes will have you seeing double. Literally. The off-road outfitter company is giving away two customized “His and Hers” 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicons.
“We don’t just sell Jeep parts; we really are Jeep people to the core,” said Ryan Huck, Video Content Specialist and ExtremeTerrain Host. “When we come up with these giveaways, we want to make it really special and give fans something amazing.”
Indeed, even stock Jeeps would be amazing enough, but ExtremeTerrain has cranked things up a notch by customizing each Rubicon. Both will be fitted with a slew of gear from Mickey Thompson, Deegan 38, Raxiom, Barricade, and Mammoth. Each accessory adds the personal flare and off-road persona Jeep enthusiasts crave.
“I’ve always loved how unique a Jeep is right out of the factory and how easy the aftermarket makes it to customize it further,” Huck said. “When a Jeep is driving toward you on the road, you know it’s a Jeep from a mile away, and you can’t say the same about your average sedan.”
(Deegan) 38 Special
The first is a Deegan 38, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited, painted in Granite Crystal Metallic. It features a 2.5-inch lift, 35-inch tires, 17-inch wheels, rock sliders, rear bumper with tire carrier, flat fenders, and Custom Matte Black Deegan 38 Decals.
“The Deegan 38 parts that will be installed are exclusive to ExtremeTerrain and all brand new,” Huck explained. “We are very excited to be partnering with Deegan 38 on this build because they make parts that not only look great, but are super functional off-road and very high quality.”
Deegan 38, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited from ExtremeTerrain. Photo: ExtremeTerrain.
Barricade Performance
The second is a Barricade 2018 Jeep Rubicon 2-door in a custom orange, powered by the 3.0 EcoDiesel. It features a 2.5-inch lift, 35-inch tires, 17-inch Mammoth wheels, Barricade rock sliders, stubby front bumper, 9,500 lbs. winch, rear bumper with tire carrier, and flat fenders.
“Barricade has been our partner on builds in the past,” Huck said. “They make some very high quality parts that can take a beating on the trails.”
Both Wranglers will be equipped with lighting from Raxiom to illuminate the darkest and dustiest trails. Furthermore, 4.56 gears (front and rear) were added to increase overall performance.
“We’re leaving no part of these Jeeps untouched and both will be very capable both on and off-road,” Huck said.
Barricade 2018 Jeep Rubicon 2-door in a custom orange from ExtremeTerrain. Photo: ExtremeTerrain.
True Enthusiasts
ExtremeTerrain was founded by Andrew and Steve Voudouris, with a mission to provide dependable performance parts and accessories for Jeeps. Their technical support staff consists of knowledgeable Jeep and off-roading enthusiasts that can point customers in the right direction. They handle inquiries from a multitude of Jeep owners, from hardcore off-roaders to casual daily drivers. Those interested can enter the ExtremeTerrain “His and Hers” 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon giveaway here.
“Even giving away one brand new modded Jeep would be worth winning, but two brand new modded Jeeps is unheard of,” Huck said. “To be given a pair of fully modded, brand new Jeeps is any Jeep fans’ dream.”

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2017 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced Review

2017 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced Review

The Toyota Prius Prime Plug-in Hybrid-Electric (PHEV) is new to the market and already outselling the Tesla Model S, Model X, Chevy Volt, and Bolt. The car is catching on with consumers becasue Toyota is already a leader in hybrid technology and a trusted brand.
It has a number of advantages that consumers seem to like. We saw those advantages firsthand when we drove the top-of-the-line, 2017 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced.
What’s New For 2017
The Prius Prime is the new plug-in version which replaces the prior Prius Plug-in Hybrid. A larger battery gives more electric-only range than the outgoing model, while its fuel efficiency in hybrid mode edges higher than that of the base Prius.
Features & Options
The range-topping 2017 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced ($33,100) is packed with a long list of tech features. It comes with a power driver’s seat, an 11.6-inch central touchscreen, upgraded multimedia system, premium synthetic leather (SofTex) seats, automatic headlights, keyless entry, satellite radio, and wireless smartphone charging.
The Advanced trim also comes with extra technology features like premium audio, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, heated steering wheel, auto-dimming mirror, heads-up display, a smartphone app with a charge management system, remote climate control, rain-sensing wipers, and a semi-automated parking function. Our tester came with the optional 15-inch alloy wheels ($899) and illuminated door sills ($299). Total MSRP including destination: $36,305.

Interior Highlights
The Prius Prime feels modern inside, and the first thing we noticed was the giant 11.6-inch touch-tablet that controls just about everything. It’s fairly intuitive and you get used to it pretty quickly by simply playing with its many features. The new Prius Prime offers seating for four and comes standard with bucket-style seats in the rear. The front seats are heated and trimmed in a SofTex synthetic leather that’s close to leather upholstery.
Passenger space is typical to what you’ll find in most compact cars, with overall volume being a tad less here than its other Prius stablemates. The raked roofline does cut into head space for taller passengers, but it doesn’t impact visibility from the driver’s seat much.
The 2017 Prius Prime offers up 19.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which is above average for a compact car but less than the standard Prius hatchback’s 27.4 cubic feet. The cargo hold is less due to the Prime’s rechargeable battery, which is mounted in the rear of the car. The 60/40 split-folding back seat adds extra cargo-carrying ability, however.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
The Toyota Prius Prime is powered by a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine and a hybrid synergy drive system featuring a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. The hybrid system’s net power is 121 horsepower (90 kW). It comes mated to an electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT). The combination drives the front wheels.
The new Prius Prime gets an EPA-estimated 54 combined mpg on gas only, and 133 MPGe electricity plus gasoline, making it the most fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid available. It has an all-electric driving range of 25 miles and when fully fueled and charged, the Prius Prime has a range of 640 miles. Using regular unleaded fuel, the Prius Prime offers one of the best costs per mile of energy of any vehicle in America.
Unlike battery-electric vehicles, the Prius Prime does not need a special home charger which will save owners thousands. On a 120 volt circuit, the Prime can charge to 100 percent in about five and a half hours. Homeowners that use a dedicated 240 volt circuit will be able to recharge in about two hours.

Driving Dynamics
The Prius Prime has driving dynamics very similar to the standard Prius. Aside from the annoying drone of the continuously variable transmission winding up under power, the Prius Prime can be fun-to-drive with its surge of electric acceleration. It was especially enjoyable as we zipped around the city streets of Denver easily because of its compact size.
The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime doesn’t offer the greatest acceleration when getting up to highway speeds, but it shines in getting excellent fuel mileage. We noticed more cabin noise than the traditional Prius, likely because of its harder tires designed for maximum mileage. But the engine noise from the 1.8-liter plant is well suppressed.
We took the compact hybrid up in the high country as we headed up I-70 into the mountains west of Denver, and found it to have ample power. In the tight mountain corners, the Prius Prime didn’t lean over too much and the city-hauler hugged the curves fairly well.
Conclusion
The Prius Prime has a new engine, more than double the EV range of the past Prius Plug-in Hybrid, offers more standard equipment and technology, and more driving flexibility than its peers. For those looking for a very fuel-efficient commuter, the Prius Prime offers consumers one of the best overall values of any vehicle in America.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2017 Toyota Prius Prime Gallery

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2017 Toyota Prius Official Site.
Photos: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

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Bricks And Bones: Chapter 12: A Slight Return: An Epilogue

Bricks And Bones: Chapter 12: A Slight Return: An Epilogue Tony Borroz attended the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 28th, 2017. This series, Bricks And Bones, explores the cultural significance, endearing legacy, and the nitty-gritty phenomenon of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
The prologue of this series here.
Chapter 1: Real Wrong here.
Chapter 2: St. Elmo’s Fire here.
Chapter 3: The Quiet Racer here.
Chapter 4: Hang Ten here.
Chapter 5: Female Perspective here.
Chapter 6: The Fearless Spaniard here.
Chapter 7: Speedway Legends here.
Chapter 8: Barrel Roll here.
Chapter 9: A Wide Face here.
Chapter 10: Among The Fans here.
Chapter 11: After The Storm here.

It is Tuesday and the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 is now two days gone. Healey and I return to our car after taking in The Speedway’s museum and a quick, impromptu chat with Donald Davidson, the “professor emeritus” of Speedway history. We get in and amble slowly through the infield roads. The vast track complex is largely empty. All cars gone. All huge shiny team transporters long on the road to Detroit for the next race. Track vehicles neatly parked. Motorhomes, the private sanctuaries of drivers, mostly gone except for a half dozen or so.
Chance Encounter
We wander back toward Gasoline Alley, Bill’s car idling along at a slightly-better-than-walking pace. A weary, strung out security guard half-heartedly waves us through a check point. The complex of garages are all shuttered behind steel roll-up doors . . . except for one. By who knows what reasoning, the remnants of Dale Coyne’s team are still there, doing a final load-out and catching up with spares for the race. We park and get out to say hello, and there, to my absolute and honest wonder is Sebastien Bourdais. He’s sitting/leaning on the back of a golf cart, talking with various team members as they walk by carrying the bits and pieces that make up a modern day racing team.
Sebastien seems none the worse for wear, despite sitting at an odd angle and orientation – no doubt due to the fact that ten days ago, he slammed into a wall in excess of 225 mph at an impact of 100 Gs, breaking his hip and fracturing his pelvis in seven places.
He’s actually rather chatty, although he seems slightly restless and agitated. When asked how he’s feeling he answers in a bit of a world-weary way, partially due to this being the 2,459th time he’s answered these same questions, but such questions are reminders he will not be racing for quite some time; weeks, months, who knows. Although talkative as is his usual self, he’s also a bit slow to answer. He is no doubt on enough painkillers to knock even Keith Richards on his ass.
Sebastien Bourdais looks on during qualifying at the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500. Photo: Joe Skibinski.
Quiet Reflection
We chat a bit more then take off, winding our way out through the track. We leave via the north entrance, slowly tooling by the lined up jet-driers and safety cars, and the garages and storage sheds necessary for putting on The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
We return home, to the leafy, tree-lined street of suburban middle America and I pause and look down the street as Bill goes inside. I think of Sebastien Bourdais, a man who shouldn’t even be here. A man of uncommon talent and bravery and skill. I think of concepts like “luck” and “risk” and “mortality.” But mainly I think of the racers. I think of Sebastien Bourdais.
I think of Sebastien Bourdais. I think of Sebastien Bourdais. I think of my friend/acquaintance/guy I met. I think of a man who should be dead. I think of a man who, but for the grace of God or Fate or Luck is still alive. I think of Sebastien Bourdais.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
This series, Bricks And Bones, in its entirety can be found here.
Cover Photo: David Yowe.

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Bricks And Bones: Chapter 11: After The Storm

Bricks And Bones: Chapter 11: After The Storm Tony Borroz attended the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 28th, 2017. This series, Bricks And Bones, explores the cultural significance, endearing legacy, and the nitty-gritty phenomenon of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
The prologue of this series here.
Chapter 1: Real Wrong here.
Chapter 2: St. Elmo’s Fire here.
Chapter 3: The Quiet Racer here.
Chapter 4: Hang Ten here.
Chapter 5: Female Perspective here.
Chapter 6: The Fearless Spaniard here.
Chapter 7: Speedway Legends here.
Chapter 8: Barrel Roll here.
Chapter 9: A Wide Face here.
Chapter 10: Among The Fans here.

It’s mid-morning in Speedway, Indiana and I walk outside into the bright Memorial Day sunshine. It is as perfect and sunny as a small town Midwest spring day can get. Leafy green trees line the block. White clapboard houses. White picket fences. Carefully maintained yards and house-proud dwellings line the block, stretching out as far as one can see. Birds tweeting and chirping. All that’s missing is a toe-headed paperboy with a crewcut.
This would be postcard middle America to a tee. Pleasantville in 3D Technicolor.
Nothing that would make it remarkable in the least, but if I were to walk ten yards to my left, there it would be. A half-mile to the east is Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A low, glowering eminence grise whose presence can be felt, night and day. It glows through your consciousness, like a power source just into the infrared. But here, right now, there is nothing but a quiet holiday morning. Yesterday, and I mean less than 24 hours ago, the scene was utterly different.
Cordiality & Chow
The streets, even these residential streets nominally on the periphery of The Scene, were swarmed with people. Walking ten yards to my left, which is north, would have given a better picture. A mass of humanity all moving in one direction: towards the Speedway. And 98 percent of them are dragging coolers, hauling backpacks, carrying this and that, and all of them, all 100 percent, are jabbering and jibbering and talking and screaming and chatting and debating and conferring. And the closer you got to the track, the more intense it was. The place was awash in soda and beer and hotdogs and corndogs and deep fried turkey legs the size of a Cro-Magnon’s club.
Burgers, fries, nachos, greasy pizza slices the size of a snow shovel blade, chow-mien(?!), more burgers, more corndogs; food enough to feed an army. And everywhere you looked, the mass of humanity was dressed in shorts and t-shirts and tank tops, blaring nationalist slogans or team allegiances or declarations of wanton consumption of drink and substances. And all of them talking and burping and babbling and farting and guffawing and snorting and prattling and sweet Buddha there’s a lot of them.
Normally the attendance of the Indy 500 is around three to five hundred thousand. That is roughly the number of kids that showed up at friggin’ Woodstock and this happens every year, year in, year out. And these people, these bright, perennially cheerful, down home Midwest salt of the Earth folk welcome them in. It is a stunning display of hospitality right out of some old testament parable. “Need to park your car? Why, here’s a spot on our lawn. That’ll be $20.00.” The streets are lined with cars, the yards are packed with them too. The front yards and delightful screened in porches are full of people talking and eating and drinking. And the roads, always the roads are packed with a moving mass of humanity, going onward, ever onward toward The Track.
Fans gather in droves inside Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Photo: Walter Kuhn.
Picturesque Arrays
But that was yesterday. Short hours ago. Not even a full day. And now, not a speck of lawn is taken up by a vehicle. There is no trash to be seen anywhere, and I mean that: no trash. Later Healey and I do a bit of a driving tour, and the scene can only be described as stunning, and only in the context of what it was like the day before.
There was a huge parking lot the size of a shopping mall. Now it is a green, grassy field. Scores of port-a-potties are now neatly stacked on trailers, all patiently idling in line, waiting to merge with traffic. All souvenir booths are shuttered. Food stands of the most common and mass-produced eats imaginable are locked down and boarded up. The garbage cans, packed to overflowing yesterday are gone, completely gone. All refuse vanished as if on the whim of an invisible wind-god.
And the track, good Lord the track itself: a scattering of people here and there on the outside, but no signs of the throng of humanity that once was. The inside is eerie in its striking lack of people and its neatness. Here and there, maybe a total of 150 people where there were once hundreds of thousands. They walk and sweep and pick up the bits of leftover trash that has so far gone unaccounted for.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway the morning of the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500. Photo: Chris Owens.

Tranquil Territory
And the trash! It has all been collected up, piece by piece, and stuffed into rust-colored garbage bags, and the bags, tens of thousands of them, all neatly lined up at the end of each row of seats. The aluminum white horizontal stands against the strong rust of the vertically arranged garbage bags is like a Christo installation piece.
The contrast between what The Speedway brings, invites; desires even, with what the town is now shocks in the extreme.
Yes, this is Speedway, both in name and deed, but the vast majority of the year it is just a simple, small Midwestern town almost drowning in its own unpretentious charm. And now, not even a day after such noise and speed and riotous behavior, Speedway, Indiana is nothing but silence and slowness and subdued conduct. It is back to as it was. Again it is Pleasantville. It is deepest, whitest American. The heart of paleness close by the banks of the Wabash.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
*To be continued. Bricks And Bones is an Automoblog original series with forthcoming installments during the days leading up to, and following the Indianapolis 500.
Cover Photo: Shawn Gritzmacher.

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Bricks And Bones: Chapter 10: Among The Fans

Bricks And Bones: Chapter 10: Among The Fans Tony Borroz attended the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 28th, 2017. This series, Bricks And Bones, explores the cultural significance, endearing legacy, and the nitty-gritty phenomenon of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.
The prologue of this series here.
Chapter 1: Real Wrong here.
Chapter 2: St. Elmo’s Fire here.
Chapter 3: The Quiet Racer here.
Chapter 4: Hang Ten here.
Chapter 5: Female Perspective here.
Chapter 6: The Fearless Spaniard here.
Chapter 7: Speedway Legends here.
Chapter 8: Barrel Roll here.
Chapter 9: A Wide Face here.

Journalists are, as a group, pretty jaded and jaundiced about the world around them. Whatever their specialty, whatever little slice of the world they cover, it’s usually done so with barely concealed condescension and detachment. This is actually something you are more or less taught in college newswriting classes. Maintaining a sense of detachment is how a journalist stays objective.
American journalists have this fetish about being objective. But this fetishized objectiveness is the beginning of being jaded in progressively darker shades of green; jaundiced in ever-yellowing hues.
By The Book
Sportswriters, although they can and are encouraged to be fans of the sports they cover, are particularly focused on being objective. Just the facts ma’am. Hits. Runs. Strikes. Passes. Touchdowns. Scores. Statistics. Always tons and tons and tons of statistics. Especially for American sportswriters.
So there we all were, some 150 or so journalists in various shades of jaded experience about two-thirds of the way through the 2017 Indy 500. Assiduously watching, taking notes, scribbling passages, hammering on keys. We were covering the event. Get it all down, stitch it together, write a lead-in graph or two, a nice summation and, bada-boom, bada-bing, you’ve met your deadline, kept your Managing Editor happy, and lived to write another day.
Sixpence Suspense
A few times during the race this professional detachment fell away. Most notably during Dixon’s colossal accident, but most of the time the press area was quiet mumbles and typing, with the occasional four sentence conversations. It was in this setting, on a late race restart, all professionalism fell away from every one of us in that room in an instant. A pack of cars, indeed the second pack of cars behind the lead group, were all blasting down the back straight on the first green flag lap after a protracted caution period. All of a sudden, for reasons that were never clear, this pack of cars, the entire pack, all saw a passing opportunity. Someone checked up, or slowed or something, then the pack, and I mean the entire pack fanned out two – no three – no four – no SIX-wide.
Everyone, and I mean literally every one of us in the top level of the pressroom switched in that instant from being jaded, jaundiced reporters, and reverted back to what got us into this business in the first place: Race fans. Collectively we had been around racing long enough to know what was up, what was down, and what happens when things go sideways. And what we were now looking at was directly on the edge of going very, very sideways.
From the outside wall to the infield grass, six cars were now running side by side at 230 miles an hour. The biggest gap between any two cars was maybe the width of your palm. The slightest was the thickness of your hand. As the cars fanned out, we, the assembled press, all started screaming, and I mean screaming the exact same thing: “NO! No, no, NO, no, no, no, nononoNONONOOOOO!!!!”
Race fans watch the action at the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500. Photo: Chris Owens.

Instant Fans
We knew what we were going to see next. This was bad. This was toddler wandering into a running machine shop bad. This was bad to the point of taking us out of journalism entirely. There were too many cars, too much speed, and a quickly diminishing amount of space . . . and then, cooler heads prevailed. It was as if all six drivers realized what they were doing and, in a snap, sorted it out.
Marco backed out of the throttle. Another car dropped left and back. Alonso (you knew Alonso was going to be in the middle of this) somehow found more speed, gained a car length, and moved right. It was over in a second, maybe a second and a half, maybe two. But in that brief span of time, we journalists were reduced to being just fans at the track, watching the race, having a blast.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
*To be continued. Bricks And Bones is an Automoblog original series with forthcoming installments during the days leading up to, and following the Indianapolis 500.
Cover Photo: Chris Owens.

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